Hillingdon

Hillingdon's population increased by about 30,900 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed quarter of a million

In the decade to 2011, the population of Hillingdon increased by 12.7%, from about 243,000 to 274,000.

The addition of almost 31,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Hillingdon was home to, on average, 17 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it London's third-least densely-populated borough.

Population density was lower than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Hillingdon

Latest census data also show that the median age of Hillingdon remained 35 years in the decade to 2011.

This area had a higher average age than London and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 8,900 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 200.

About 16.0% of people in Hillingdon are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Hillingdon by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with adult children living with their parents

Hillingdon saw London's second-largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just under one in eight (11.8%) households in Hillingdon had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 10.3% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 31.9% to 35.8%.

Across the region, only Harrow saw a greater rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 11.8% to 13.5%).

During this period, Hillingdon overtook Barking and Dagenham, Brent and Redbridge to become the London local authority area with the fifth-highest percentage of households with only adult children living with their parents.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across London

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Hillingdon

In 2011, 25.3% of Hillingdon residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 14.4% in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 13.2% to 18.5%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 60.6% of people in Hillingdon said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 79.1% in 2001. About 7.3% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, compared with 3.3% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 2.3% to 3.8%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Hillingdon increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Hillingdon by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Hillingdon

The percentage of Hillingdon residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.7% to 6.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.8%, while the percentage of Hillingdon residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 90.5% to 90.5%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 5.8% in 2001 to 5.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Hillingdon at a faster rate than in Spelthorne (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Hillingdon).

In Hillingdon, the proportion of private renting increased from 9.6% in 2001 to 18.1% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Spelthorne increased from 7.7% to 12.7%.

Across London, the share of privately rented homes increased from 15.3% to 25.1%.

The rate of social housing in Hillingdon increased from 16.5% to 16.7%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 71.1% to 62.9%.

Private renting in Hillingdon increased by 8.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Hillingdon, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Hillingdon

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Hillingdon was among those who said they were Muslim, rising 6.0 points.

In 2011, 10.6% of respondents in Hillingdon gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 4.6% of those who answered in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as Muslim increased from 8.5% to 12.4%, while across England the percentage went from 3.2% to 5.2%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Hillingdon, 49.2% said they were Christian, compared with 64.1% in 2001. About 17.0% said they had no religion, compared with 13.4% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Hindu increased from 4.6% to 8.0%.

In Hillingdon, 6.4% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.1% in 2001. In London, 8.5% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population who identified as Muslim in Hillingdon increased by 6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, London and Hillingdon by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Hillingdon

The percentage of single people in Hillingdon increased from 32.1% to 36.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in two (47.5%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 50.5% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Hillingdon that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.8% to 10.2%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased faster here than the figure for the whole of London (from 41.2% in 2001 to 44.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people living alone

The percentage of one-person households fell here at a faster rate than in nearby Spelthorne.

In Hillingdon, the proportion of one-person households decreased from 28.7% in 2001 to 25.2% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Spelthorne decreased from 29.5% to 28.5%.

Across London, the share of one-person households decreased from 34.7% to 31.6%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Hillingdon remained close to 7.9%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 36.9% to 35.7%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across London

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Hillingdon residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.4% to 4.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84.1%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71.3% in 2001. The percentage of Hillingdon residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.3% to 11.5%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Hillingdon decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Hillingdon, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More students

The percentage of Hillingdon residents that were studying increased from 3.2% to 4.8% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (52.3%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 56.0% in 2001. The percentage of Hillingdon residents that were unemployed increased from 2.7% to 4.4%.

The proportion of students increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 3.0% in 2001 to 4.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Hillingdon increased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Hillingdon, London and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Hillingdon working less than 16 hours increased from 1.7% to 3.4% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 12.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 2.0% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Hillingdon increased by 1.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Hillingdon, London and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Hillingdon residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.8%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Hillingdon remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Hillingdon by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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